Proxy Services

Proxy Solicitation

MacKenzie's Proxy Solicitation and Mergers & Acquisitions Services Group provides advisory and execution services for annual and special meetings and in corporate control contests - such as unsolicited tender offers, proxy fights and consent contests.

Mergers & Acquisitions

MacKenzie's Proxy Solicitation and Mergers & Acquisitions Services Group provides advisory and execution services for annual and special meetings and in corporate control contests - such as unsolicited tender offers, proxy fights and consent contests.

Annual & Special Meetings

In our work with annual and special meeting proxy solicitation clients, MacKenzie Partners is often asked for an analysis and recommendation regarding the probability of passing specific proposals, and for the development of the most cost effective solicitation campaign that ensures a successful outcome.

Our initial tasks typically include analyzing the shareholder base and developing voting projections based on our knowledge of the institutions' and other constituents' past and anticipated future voting practices for each proposal. From there, we develop a solicitation timetable and a communications strategy based on the issues involved and launch a comprehensive campaign.

The solicitation generally includes a full-scale telephone campaign to retail holders, in-person visits and conference calls with management of the largest institutions, and recommendations on obtaining a favorable recommendation from ISS.

At a practical level, we take charge of disseminating the search notice and appropriate dates for the Street. We work with the financial printer to assure correct print quantities and the timely delivery of proxy materials, including follow-up contact with the banks and brokers to confirm receipt and prompt mailing.

Throughout the solicitation, we monitor voting responses and inform management of any problems that may develop our recommended solutions.

If the situation requires, we draft and disseminate additional materials or voting reminder letters, which may include delivery by express service, proxy telegram, and the ability to vote by telephone or through the Internet.

We monitor the tabulator's interim results up to the closing of the polls. We can also assist with meeting planning, logistics and management presentations.

Proxy Contests

Among the various ways to effect a change in corporate control in the U.S., proxy contests provide solicitors with their greatest and most complex challenges. Unlike an unsolicited tender offer, which is evaluated largely on financial terms - the size and structure of the bid - proxy contests are decided by the quality of communications to shareholders, by how well we devise and disseminate arguments for changing or defending against a change in control.

Whether we advise a dissident shareholder or incumbent management, one of our key strategic roles is to frame the issues and shape the message to be delivered to a company's shareholders. The goal is to convince shareholders to vote their proxies in favor of our client and against the opponent.

We also provide advice regarding the timing of proxy material mailings, press releases and advertising to receive maximum impact, to respond to the oppositions' communications with counter-arguments, and to try to "get in the last word" before the annual meeting takes place.

Financial, Investor & Media Relations

As an adjunct to our proxy solicitation and tender offer work, we often provide clients with associated financial, investor and media relations services, working closely with our client's in-house communications executives as well as its traditional PR or IR agency.

In high profile transactions - particularly proxy contests and hostile tender offers - we take charge of drafting, finalizing and distributing press releases to the financial, local and trade press, act as our client's spokesperson, create slideshow presentations, arrange media interviews and prepare client executives for press interviews or meetings with institutional investors.

Throughout a transaction, we will often consult with clients with respect to their other financial media or investor relations concerns - earnings releases, quarterly and annual reports, senior executive hirings, buy-side, sell-side and institutional targeting and other related issues.

About Us

MacKenzie Partners has a deep and rich history in handling services related to corporate mergers and acquisitions.
Our senior executives have more than a century of experience in their respected fields and have been involved in hundreds of transactions.